Not long ago, the Jade Empire fell into hard times as the Long Drought plagued the lands. A horrible economic collapse occurred as rivers dried and trade crippled. Desperate for a solution at any cost, Emperor Sun Hai led the Imperial army to the holy temple of Dirge, the ancient home of the Spirit Monks and the great goddess the Water Dragon. The Emperor and his brothers assaulted the great temple, wiping out the Spirit Monks and desecrating the Water Dragonís body. Sun Hai betrayed his brothers, killing one while the other, Sun Li the Glorious Strategist, fled the temple with a young Spirit Monk in his arms. Abandoning his infamous armor, Sun Li took up another identity and fled to the edges of the Empire to train the young Spirit Monk to exact his complex vengeance on his traitorous brother. Back at the temple, Sun Hai decided that his deceased brother was too valuable to let die and so he bound the spirit to Sun Liís armor, creating a thoughtless tool of destruction, Deathís Hand, who would lead the Lotus Assassins against the enemies of the Emperor. The death of the Water Dragon caused the dead to walk the Earth, unable to venture into the underworld, creating chaos throughout the land.As the young Spirit Monk grew as Sun Liís favored pupil, the Glorious Strategistís plans began to fall into place. The monk, Eriku the Burning Spirit, nearly reached his peak as his journey was set into motion by a attack by bandits, later revealed as some of the Lotus Assassins. After twenty years, Sun Hai had found his cowardly brother and his school of martial arts, Twin Rivers. Eriku was sent outside of the town gates as one of his allies was kidnapped, but as he searched for her outside of town Imperial Flyers soared overhead and bombed the Twin Rivers School, killing everyone. Upon his return with ally Dawn Star, Eriku discovered amongst the ruins that Master Li had been captured. Of course, the two students, along with a mysterious ally set off to rescue their master.The journey was a long one, picking up many allies along the way and running into dozens of complications with Lotus Assassins, ghosts, gods, demons and almost everything else imaginable. Occassionally, Eriku was guided by the agonized spirit of the Water Dragon, who helped guide the monk on his journey, adding to the confusion of his purpose.During his trip through a small town, he happened upon what seemed to be an assassin who repeatedly popped up throughout Erikuís journey after she failed to assassinate the skilled student. When the Spirit Monk and his posse of rag tag adventurers reached the Imperial City, the assassin, Silk Fox, revealed herself as Princess Lian the Heavenly Lily. The princess offered to get them into the palace to save Li if Eriku was able to infiltrate the Lotus Assassins and find incriminating evidence against Deathís Hand. As they talked, the young Spirit Monk found himself falling for the princess, but the business at hand shadowed his emotions as the journey pressed on.

Inside the order of the Lotus Assassins, Eriku discovered evidence of horrible deeds committed by both Deathís Hand and Lianís father, Sun Hai. To end the Long Drought they killed the Water Dragon and used her life blood to feed the forests and crops of the Empire. The Spirit Monk was able to corrupt the Golem army that was being constructed by the Empire, which delivered a strong blow to the Lotus Assassins, but not strong enough. After killing many of the Assassins, Eriku confronted Deathís Hand. One of the Spirit Monkís allies, Sagacious Zu, occupied the tool of the Emperor long enough for Eriku and the rest to escape the fortress but it cost Zu his life.Quickly, the oddly grouped pack flew to the Imperial Palace to confront the Emperor and end the horrors that had taken place there. After fighting their way through the palace, the group reached the throne room where Sun Hai overwhelmed Erikuís allies with his godly powers. The Spirit Monk was able to resist and the two engaged in a long battle for the Empire. Eventually, Eriku slew the Emperor, relieved that his journey to save his master had ended. But as Sun Hai fell, the Glorious Strategist explained himself and told Eriku how he was merely a tool of revenge. Sun Li took the heart of the Water Dragon and all of its power from Sun Hai. Li trained Eriku with a hidden weakness, which he quickly exploited, killing the last Spirit Monk in the throne room of the Imperial Palace.All hope seemed lost. Fortunately, when Eriku defeated Sun Hai, he was able to restore a fraction of the Water Dragonís power. The Goddess guided him through the underworld to Dirge, where he would have to restore the tainted fountains so that he could be granted life again. Navigating through the chaos of the restless spirits of Dirge, Eriku combated a great evil in the heart of the Temple, the source of the corruption. The Spirit Monk overcame the terror of Dirge, freeing the trapped spirits there and allowing the Water Dragon to breathe life into him once again. Now knowledgeable of his masterís true nature, Eriku sought revenge and justice for the Empire.Stunned, his allies wandered until Dawn Star had a vision telling her to take everyone to Dirge and that Eriku was alright after all. As the Spirit Monk walked down the temple steps, he confronted his allies who were shocked to see him alive. But the light mood was short as his allies reminded Eriku that a massive golem army was on its way to Dirge, a dramatic repetition of history at the gates of Dirge once again. The golems would reach Dirge by morning and as everyone settled down to sleep, they marched. But that night, Eriku confessed his love for Princess Lian and the two shared a romantic moment topped with a dramatic kiss before the chaos of the morning came.The army hit the temple hard, but with the assistance of the quick thinking of the group, Dirgeís defenders held off for a long morning. As the battle raged, the temple bell rang, signaling Eriku to come to the temple. As the Spirit Monk arrived, it was Sky who tolled the massive bell that served as a double signal, the second meaning quickly realized as Deathís Hand and a small group of Lotus Assassins flew to the temple. Sky set a clever trap which crushed the Assassins but Deathís Hand survived the collapse. There, at the top of the world, Eriku fought and defeated Deathís Hand, finally the right hand of the Emperor was silenced. As a Spirit Monk, Eriku made the righteous decision to release the tortured soul of Deathís Hand, giving the brother rest at long last. Without its leader, the golems were useless and as Sun Li fled to the Imperial Palace the group cheered for its victory defending the great temple.The celebrations were cut short as Erikuís duty brought him to the Palace. Before the ride, Eriku discussed his future with Princess Lian, ruling together in peace. But first they must eliminate former Master Li, completing the circle and bringing peace to the Empire. Once the group reached the palace, they witnessed first hand the horrors that the brothers Sun committed upon the great goddess the Water Dragon. Kept alive by a twisted machine, the Water Dragon suffered as she bled the pure waters that fed the Empire. Eriku destroyed the machine and released the Water Dragon from her painful prison, determined to destroy the one who caused this.Once again, the group fought their way through the palace until Eriku reached the throne room. The student confronted the master and after combating demonic minions and even Doubt itself, Eriku fought with his master Sun Li for the fate of the Jade Empire. The battle was long and hard, but the young Spirit Monk was able to strike down his former master, ending the cruelty that ensnared the Empire for so long.

The Water Dragon released and the brotherís Sun destroyed, the Empire celebrated its new freedom and their savior. Soon after, Eriku and Princess Lian wed and ruled over the Jade Empire in peace, rooting out the evils that remained after the many years of terror. Now the Empire seems peaceful as the new rulers lead the prosperous land, the economy flourished, spirits were laid to rest and fields bloomed once againÖ